Interior design should be a uniting force, bringing people together in public-facing places, whether performance venues, galleries, education schemes, civic projects, transport infrastructure or historic sites. Projects in these categories should be able to satisfy the needs of diverse groups, promote location-specific engagement and create

healthy, sustainable spaces, which promote environmental responsibility as one of their key aims

CINEMAS, THEATRES & CONCERT HALLS

Successful entries should provide the ultimate performance experience, whether that’s next-level movie going, truly immersive theatre or the most talked about live music events. Designs should perfectly balance audience needs such as comfort and accessibility with demands such as leading-edge acoustics, seamlessly incorporating specialist equipment while maximising audience revenue.

CIVIC

This category is dedicated to discovering awe-inspiring interiors in venues including community centres, libraries, visitor centres or other municipal hubs which promote social interaction, learning, community engagement and civic pride. Designs should exceed the expectations of diverse user groups, improve quality of life for residents and provide a focal point, unique to the project’s location.

EDUCATION

Students and teachers alike should be supported and inspired by the design of these spaces, which can be a school, university, college, early-years education space, research centre or training facility. The interior design should support a range of teaching and learning styles whether formal or informal, deftly accommodate different study group sizes and provide ample opportunity for collaboration as well as independent study.

HISTORIC

Preserving and respecting the cultural significance of the site, designs should also cleverly consider current and future user needs. Interiors should demonstrate expert restoration and conservation methods with careful consideration of the original structure and materials, while

adding contemporary design knowhow.

MUSEUMS & GALLERIES

Creating a truly memorable experience, projects in this category must demonstrate a thorough understanding of exhibition design for both permanent collections and temporary shows. Designs should encourage visitors to explore and engage with the gallery spaces as well as the retail and café offerings, creating a strong creative narrative and ensuring the museum or gallery is a must-visit destination.

TRANSPORT

This category demonstrates ground-breaking infrastructure design, whether an airport, railway station, bus or tram station, yacht, boat or other significant transport design. Projects must enable an outstanding passenger experience: a hassle-free journey, exemplary wayfinding and signage plus ample facilities within the concourse and waiting areas. Designs should be effective and socially responsible, balancing the needs of operators, visitors and the local community.

Hospitality is one of the most dynamic interior sectors

with ground-breaking designs in restaurants, cafés, hotels,

entertainment venues and members clubs that inspire

other typologies. What unites winning designs is a truly

imaginative guest experience where design dovetails with

exceptional customer service. As consumers are ever more

conscious of making climate-conscious decisions, so the

design should underpin these sustainable demands.

ENTERTAINMENT

Excellence in entertainment design includes bars, nightclubs, music venues and casinos with the wow factor. Interiors should create a distinct identity and a truly immersive environment where lighting, sound and décor work harmoniously together with seamless integration of audio-visual systems and related technology.

HOTEL & OTHER OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATION

The interior design of hotels, guest houses, serviced apartments, chalets, holiday cottages and other overnight accommodation should enhance overall guest comfort.From bedroom and suite layout to the décor of common areas such as front of house, bars and restaurants,

projects should achieve a cohesive hospitality experience.

MEMBERS CLUBS

Interiors should embody what an exclusive environment means: specification of high-quality furniture, lighting and materials, providing a highly sophisticated environment with a distinctive sense of luxury. Privacy is another desirable consideration for members clubs so visitors can meet, relax or network discreetly.

RESTAURANTS & CAFES

Whether a fine dining restaurant or the best casual eatery, the interior design should create a comfortable, welcoming look and feel for customers while enabling staff to deliver top notch service. From suitable acoustics, brilliant branding to an innovative layout, projects should deliver on all levels to enhance the dining or drinking experience.

Restaurants & Cafe's, Small Practice (Under 20 Employees)

Restaurants & Cafe's, Medium Practice (20+ Employees)

Whether promoting physical activity, relaxation or healing, health and wellbeing has become an integral part of modern lifestyles in recent years. As such, interior design has become a key differentiator in sports and wellness spaces such as training and recreation facilities, and spas as well as health facilities and specialist clinics. As sustainability increasingly matters to consumers, particularly those with a holistic approach to living, so this should be reflected in the sports and wellness interiors they use.

HOSPITALS & CLINICS

Projects should sensitively respond to the needs of patients, healthcare professionals and visitors. Designs should also promote healing and patient dignity via the creation of clean and comfortable interiors offering suitable ventilation, lighting and surface materials and offer adequate provision of private rooms, staff facilities and medical record storage.

SPAS & WELLNESS SPACES

The design of spas and wellness spaces should promote deep relaxation, wellbeing and holistic health. As well as space for private treatments and secure storage for personal belongings, the common areas should exude calm, aiding the healing process through innovative use of materials and lighting.

SPORTS, TRAINING & RECREATION

Whether sports professional or amateur user, visitors to sports clubs and training areas expect state-of-the-art facilities with high quality design to match in everything from the changing rooms to the hospitality provision on site.

The workspace interiors world has changed dramatically post-Covid. Successful schemes in large and corporate offices, communal areas and other workplace categories will demonstrate how design holds the key to this shift by encouraging collaboration and embracing hybrid working. Workspaces should also be inclusive to cater for different working styles. Clients in this sector increasingly place their environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals as a high priority, which should be reflected in the interior product specification and also the overall design approach.

COMMUNAL AREAS

This category includes refurbishments or new builds and is open to innovative design solutions for lobbies, joint workspaces, meeting rooms, conference suites, breakout areas, co-working spaces, office canteens and corporate restaurants, rest areas and other inspiring common areas. Designs should be space efficient, foster teamwork and promote a sense of company belonging.

CORPORATE OFFICES (UNDER 5,000 SQM)

Small workplace interiors should take employee needs and the client’s corporate aims into consideration with appropriate provision of workstations plus areas for collaboration as well as concentrated work, maximising space in areas such as meeting rooms and reception areas to ensure flexibility with appropriate lighting, furniture and storage.

CORPORATE OFFICES (5,000 - 10,000 SQM)

Small and medium workplace interiors should take employee needs and the client’s corporate aims into consideration with appropriate provision of workstations plus areas for collaboration as well as concentrated work, maximising space in areas such as meeting rooms and reception areas to ensure flexibility with appropriate lighting, furniture and storage.

CORPORATE OFFICES (OVER 10,000 SQM)

The design of large, corporate offices should engender a sense of unity within the workforce, whether in-office, hybrid or remote. The provision of audio-visual and collaboration spaces as well as flexible furniture configurations and wellness facilities is therefore key to ensure every employee can reach their potential.

Corporate Offices (2,000 - 5,000 SQM)

Corporate Offices (Under 2,000 SQM)

STUDIOS, CO-WORKING SPACES & HOME OFFICES

Flexibility in workplace interiors has never been more important post-pandemic. The category, given over to studio spaces, home offices and coworking locations will also consider maximising productivity and comfort, tailoring tech to individual needs, balancing communal and private areas, with due consideration given to a sustainable design approach.

OTHER WORKSPACES

This project category is dedicated to any other well-designed space that can be categorised as a workplace. This ranges from innovative use of industrial buildings, breweries and distilleries to future-facing factory spaces, refineries, warehouses, wineries and storage facilities.

Whether large or small one-off homes for individuals or families or show flats or apartments and developments, successful entries in these categories should perfectly match the desires and lifestyle preferences of residents. As consumers become more aware of the climate emergency, demonstrable consideration should be given to a sustainable approach to product specification. Innovation in layouts and design details is also crucial.

ONE OFF HOMES (UNDER £1M)

The interior design of individual dwellings with an overall value of under £1 million will be considered including new builds, conversions, renovations or extensions. These should demonstrate an intelligent use of space with multifunctional layouts that create a comfortable

and practical environment, demonstrating a deep understanding of the needs and wants of the owners.

ONE OFF HOMES (OVER £1M)

The interiors of individual dwellings with an overall value of over £1 Million will be considered including new builds, conversions, renovations, or extensions. The judges will be looking for comfortable and healthy homes that make best use of the space available and perfectly reflect the personality and lifestyle of the occupants.

RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS (APARTMENTS)

The interior of a successful multi-home development such as an apartment building, student accommodation or other development with multiple homes should highlight how the project satisfies the needs of the potential residents, as well as how it enhances the surrounding

community and meets sustainability considerations.

SHOW FLATS & DEVELOPMENTS (OR APARTMENTS)

The interior of a show flat or apartment should soundly demonstrate the potential of a housing development to potential buyers or renters in terms of space utilisation and maximising daylight. Considered furniture and lighting selection and material finishes are key. Entries should be imbued with a strong sense of lifestyle aspiration.

Harnessing technology and marrying that with exceptional creativity to show what’s possible whether in a lighting scheme, temporary installation or CGI or visualisation is what’s required to win in these categories. As environmental responsibility gains traction throughout the built environment, this should be clearly evident in projects submitted.

ACCESSIBILITY

Wherever possible interiors should be designed to meet the needs of people with differing physical abilities, allowing them to access and use spaces safely and independently. Accessible interior design encompasses everything from ramps and lifts to wider doorways and hallways, inclusive signage and wayfinding, accessible WCs and also acknowledges neurodivergent users in terms of appropriate lighting, colours, patterns and materials.

CGI & VISUALISATION

Exceptionally realised CGIs and visualisations help to bring the story of a design to life. Entries should not only accurately represent the scheme in question but take the intended stakeholders on a visual journey, helping to raise expectations of the finished design and how it will meet the needs of the intended user groups.

LIGHTING PROJECTS

One of the essential elements of any interior, projects in this category should demonstrate a deep understanding of the technical capabilities of various types of lighting systems, harnessing the placement, colour temperature and intensity to achieve an unforgettable atmosphere and mood while also considering energy efficiency demands.

TEMPORARY & EXPERIENTIAL PROJECTS

Projects such as site-specific installations should be both cohesive and impactful for visitors. Designs should support a dynamic and interactive environment which creates a memorable experience. Consideration should also be given to the ease of installation and dismantling of these temporary projects and related sustainability demands.

Innovative interior design is inextricably linked with the customer experience in successful entries in the categories for independent shops and small retail chains, visual merchandising, concessions and pop ups and larger spaces such as retail chains, department stores and shopping centres. Consumers are increasingly eco-

conscious, and this priority should be reflected in the design decisions made.

INDEPENDENT SHOPS & SMALL CHAINS

Whether a single, independent outlet or a small chain of shops in different locations, projects should show a clear understanding of customer flow with winning designs in this category cleverly reflecting the retail brand’s personality to attract and retain loyal customers.

RETAIL CHAINS, DEPARTMENT STORES, SHOPPING CENTRES LARGE & SMALL

Best in class designs for retail chains, department stores, shopping arcades and malls need to incorporate multiple branding elements seamlessly, with easy navigation and fit-for-purpose facilities as well as fully considering the customer experience to support visitor loyalty and drive consistent revenue.

VISUAL MERCHANDISING, CONCESSIONS & POP UPS

Designs with a limited timeframe and dimensions such as visual merchandising displays, concessions and pop ups need to be aesthetically engaging to create a memorable

impression, in keeping with the brand. Due consideration should also be given to the reuse of materials after the project life cycle has ended.

The winners of any of the above pay-to-enter categories will be automatically entered into the below categories.

EMERGING INTERIORS PRACTICE OF THE YEAR

INTERIORS PRACTICE OF THE YEAR

OUTSTANDING INTERIORS PROJECT OF THE YEAR

EMERGING INTERIORS PRACTICE OF THE YEAR

INTERIORS PRACTICE OF THE YEAR

OUTSTANDING INTERIORS PROJECT OF THE YEAR

Innovation Project of the Year